I just found out that the Gibson burned in the Fire Was a Gibson 355 not a 335 the difference being a Tremolo bar is only on 355.It seems the Gibson Zappa used was not his it belonged to Niger Lennon A woman Frank let live with him and Gail.Frank meet her in Los Angels on 7 august 71 He knew her from the year before when she sent him a tape to bizarre Records.Zappa got back in Contact with her after the insurance money came.

There are some excellent photo's on Corbis website of 1970 or 1971 FZ and the band in rehearsal. Theres that Trumpet / Flugel horn player that FZ may have written the black page for. I forget his name, but I think he was in the VPRO documentary of April 2007 (Holland).

The photo's you require are that of the Royal Festival Hall gig London. Can someone help me out with the date? Jimmy Carl Black told me this year. I hope he gets better, for one he has an excellent memory for details, and he is a nice man.

There are lots of videos and images of Frank playing the ES-355, all of which I've seen were on stage with the Flo & Eddie bands. I had assumed that this was lost in the fire because it never shows up after 1971.

There are lots of videos and images of Frank playing the ES-355, all of which I've seen were on stage with the Flo & Eddie bands. I had assumed that this was lost in the fire because it never shows up after 1971.

Both the 335 and the 335 may or may not come from the factory with a vibrato. Frank's 355 had the "Maestro Vibrola" tail, which was common on 355s of that era. I had an early 70's model with the same.

It was a gibson ES that FZ was playing 1971,and also got Destroyed in fire.It got no date for the photo i guess it is not as old as 8/7/71if ES-335 AND 355 are so similar they can be identical how can it be said what guitar he used?

I found a time he is Using ES-355 before 8/7/71 when he jammed with John and Yoko 5/6/71.

EditFZ gig list says Jeff simmons never toured 71 so must be 70 televised 16/1/71 Flo and Eddie are there.

It was a gibson ES that FZ was playing 1971,and also got Destroyed in fire.It got no date for the photo i guess it is not as old as 8/7/71if ES-335 AND 355 are so similar they can be identical how can it be said what guitar he used?

I found a time he is Using ES-355 before 8/7/71 when he jammed with John and Yoko 5/6/71.

EditFZ gig list says Jeff simmons never toured 71 so must be 70 televised 16/1/71 Flo and Eddie are there.

I think we are in agreement here. The guitar in both the image I posted and in the French film you linked to is the same ES-355. Frank used that ES-355 on stage in 1970 and 1971, and apparently lost it in the fire.

As a guitarist with a fondness for Gibson semi-hollow electrics, I can spot an ES-335 versus an ES-345 or an ES-355 from a mile away. There is no question that Frank's was an ES-355. In fact, I have never seen any image of him playing an ES-335.

**EDIT** - I realize now that I was missing the point about Frank evidently acquiring this guitar on or after August 7, 1971. Something must be off about that story. I think he used the same ES-355 in 70 and 71. In fact, based on my listening to boots from March 1970 ("Hot Rats" band), I would bet he had it then.

It was a gibson ES that FZ was playing 1971,and also got Destroyed in fire.It got no date for the photo i guess it is not as old as 8/7/71if ES-335 AND 355 are so similar they can be identical how can it be said what guitar he used?

I found a time he is Using ES-355 before 8/7/71 when he jammed with John and Yoko 5/6/71.

EditFZ gig list says Jeff simmons never toured 71 so must be 70 televised 16/1/71 Flo and Eddie are there.

I think we are in agreement here. The guitar in both the image I posted and in the French film you linked to is the same ES-355. Frank used that ES-355 on stage in 1970 and 1971, and apparently lost it in the fire.

As a guitarist with a fondness for Gibson semi-hollow electrics, I can spot an ES-335 versus an ES-345 or an ES-355 from a mile away. There is no question that Frank's was an ES-355. In fact, I have never seen any image of him playing an ES-335.

**EDIT** - I realize now that I was missing the point about Frank evidently acquiring this guitar on or after August 7, 1971. Something must be off about that story. I think he used the same ES-355 in 70 and 71. In fact, based on my listening to boots from March 1970 ("Hot Rats" band), I would bet he had it then.

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